Interview with H.E. Mr.Joaquim Amaral— Timor Leste’s ambassador to Thailand
[BRIEF]
The democratic republic of east Timor or Timor Leste, which is seen as the smaller island in Asia, since it sought to fight for the republic and later, it had gained its independence successfully, dated to its history, heavily colonized in the centuries by Portuguese colonizers. During world war second, the island was fully occupied by Japan. In 1945, shortly after end of the war, the Portugal had acclaimed its colonial rules over it. In 1975, when Portugal was economically depressed and ready to give up its colonial rules at abroad, the Portuguese government allowed it to made decision upon its fate, there had appeared three factions in public: 1–the revolutionary frontier for the East Timor independence, FRETILIN 2–the democratic alliance for the maintenance of relations with Portugal 3–and the people’s democratic association which advocated in integration with Indonesia. Because the three parties have had different political viewpoints, which finally led to clash that broke up as result, this land remains underdeveloped and mystery to the outsiders, but full of its blood and tears in process of independent roadmap. On 28 November 1975, the revolutionary front (FRETILIN) won its freedom and declared the independence of Timor Leste and the first President is Francisco Xavier do Amaral. Shortly after its independence day; Indonesia sent troops invade the territory in 7 December 1975 and declared it as the 27th province in 1976. Between 1975 and 1999, the Indonesian army once again imposed an iron fist on the Timor Leste, causing great suffering in the civil war. On August 30, 1999 in a United Nations supervised referendum, the majority of Timorese voted for Independence from Indonesia. The Indonesia left Timor Leste in late 1999, then until 2002 the country was administred by the United Nations. Actually this month on 30 August, Timor Leste going to celebrate the historic day on its 20th year anniversary of the referendum when Timorese people chose for independence. During the period of 1999-2002, with intervention of the United Nations, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council including P.R.China unanimously supported the independence of Timor Leste. On May 20, 2002, United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) hand over the administration to theTimor Leste government and following by the restoration of independence. By unanimous decision of the General Assembly Timor Leste became the 191st United Nation Member State on September 27, 2002. The first Presidential election held and was elected Excellency Xanana Gusmao as known as the ‘Mandela’, On May 20, It had established diplomatic relations with People’s Republic of China is first amongst three countries Thailand and Norway
Today, warmly invited by for the ambassador H.E.Mr.Joaquim Amaraln, [THAILAND IMPRESSION] MEDIA editor made a visit within in-depth coverage of the newest nation just nearly 20 years, by depicting this country in the past and at present and in future. Thailand, as one of the first ASEAN member who joining UN peace keeping force, used to offer aids to restore peace and civil order
The first part: Moving its steps outside
It is just closely seen to Australia across the sea. At present, many businessmen from China, Hong Kong, Macao Singapore, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, USA, Portugal, Australia and Indonesia made investment by setting up his business in Timor-Leste. The projects they had chosen include construction of physical infrastructure, Tourism, agricultural parts, fishing industry and import and export trading, which greatly promotes Timor-Leste’s outward development. At present, with the national population total 1.3 million, it divided into 12 municipalities and one Zone Special Economic and Administrative Region of Oecussi , with the capital territory– Dili, as the center of the most political, economic and cultural city, nearby a deep sea harbor. Due to historical reasons, the west Timor is part of Indonesia sovereignty, there is located Oecusse a small region administrative on the northern part of entire Timor island by its unique geographical location, now belongs to Timor Leste. Oecusse region is designated for a special zone economic development. This ZEESM that will function as incubators for governance policies that can be implemented as tool to drive the global and integrate development of entire the country. Than acting as adjacent in connecting with Indonesia by making the non-governmental exchanges and trading between the two countries as a friendly hub.
The second part: Taking advantages of its Uniqueness
Timor-leste has a long coastline of 735km and with its highest mountain in the country is 2,963 meters above sea level and just off coral reefs. It has many pure mountains, lakes, springs and virgin beaches, which exist the potential tourism afterwards, Timor-leste offers its organic coffee which is viewed as one of main fully growing industry and just next to oil refinery and others fields, its coffee become the reliable supply of the famous star-bucks shops. It is so enriched in Marine life, oil and gas resources, it is assumed that its unearthed reserves are yielding so hugely in Asia. Many big foreign oil enterprises, which rushed into sea of Timor-Leste, come from Japan, Europe, the United States, and Australia who have obtained the right to explore the country’s offshore oil and gas that become a major source of Timor-Leste’s foreign exchange earnings to its total revenue.
For historical reasons, the people were heavily influenced by the Portuguese colonists. Portuguese languages is used as the official language and Tetum is the next one justly which is seen as a blend of the local language and Portuguese. In addition, English and Indonesian became the main languages of Timorese as working languages. In terms of religious belief, about 97 percent of the residents of the country believe in Catholicism, about 2 percent believe in Christianity, and 1 percent of the residents belong to the Muslim religion. As the local ethnic group, the few Chinese among Timorese also had descended from years hereby and integrated with the local community.
Chapter three: HIGHTLIGHT ON WORLD STAGES
In recent years, Timor Leste has been active in the diplomatic arena, while applying for its membership into the Asean family, responding to the UN chart and joining into the UN organization. Royal Thai princess Sirindhorn of Thailand visited on Janauary 2014 and recently in June2019. Later on July 2019, the deputy minister of national education of Thailand and other government officials visited it. In 2008, Timor-Leste opened its embassy in Thailand. H.E. Mr.Joaquim Amaral is honored to be Timor-Leste’s second ambassador to Thailand. On the farewell to this interviewing, the editor wrote on two lines of auspicious words on the guest book of the embassy in Thailand: [With best wishes to the people of Timor Leste with happiness and to the country with peace and prosperity] — interviewed at the embassy in Thailand on August 21, 2019.
[With special thanks to the ambassador of Timor Leste to Thailand for his kind invitation]
Written by Darwin Lee